The How Isn't Up To You

[Christ4Ever]

Mary responded, "I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true." And then the angel left her. Luke 1:38

Comparing the responses of Mary and Zechariah to God's plan for their future sons, you can surely relate to Zechariah second guessing the particulars. He and his wife were so advanced in age that he didn't believe even an angel's word about having a son.

Zechariah had every reason to want the angel's words to be true, but he could only imagine all of the ways that it couldn't happen. You can certainly relate to that outlook today as you face lesser challenges and still struggle to trust in God's provision.

Mary, on the other hand, placed herself fully in God's care, trusting that a seemingly impossible plan could come true, word for word. Her attitude appears to be especially important for her act of faith. "I am the Lord's servant." Those who see themselves as God's servants have nothing to lose when trusting themselves to Him in faith. Their reputations and fears about the future are God's concern, not theirs.

The "how" of God's plan isn't up to you, and Mary humbly recognized that. As a servant of God, your place is to live by faith, not to second -guess God on the details.

 

[Dovegiven]

Luke 1:36-38 (KJV)
36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

That's wisdom for all of us to profit by. None of the promises of God require praying about. What was told to Mary was beyond mere reason in that culture, yet she welcomed it, invited that to happen to her.